Ukrainian MPs support Zelensky's rule at second attempt
Zelensky's five-year presidential term expired last year, although he has declined to conduct new elections, citing the martial law imposed in 2022. US President Donald Trump last week branded the Ukrainian leader a 'dictator without elections.'
The parliament in Kiev initially voted on a declaration of support for Zelensky during a visit by senior EU officials on the third anniversary of the Ukraine conflict on Monday, but the resolution was rejected.
However, it garnered enough support at the second attempt on Tuesday, when 280 lawmakers voted in favor, as reported by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak. The declaration denounces Russian President Vladimir Putin as being 'responsible for the impossibility of organizing free, transparent, democratic elections in Ukraine.'
The text also asserts that Ukraine is a democratic state and that its people do not question Zelensky's mandate, based on MPs' discretion. As such, lawmakers argue that Zelensky should retain presidential powers until a proper replacement can be elected once the conflict concludes.
While the Ukrainian Constitution prohibits parliamentary and presidential elections during wartime and allows for the extension of the sitting parliament's term, it lacks similar provisions for the presidency. On the contrary, it states that if no valid replacement is available in due time, presidential authority should transfer to the parliament's speaker. Putin has cited Ukrainian law to explain why Russia questions Zelensky's claim to power.
This month, Trump publicly described Zelensky as a 'dictator without elections,' claiming that the Ukrainian leader's domestic approval ratings are in single digits. Zelensky has countered the criticism by referencing an opinion poll from a Kiev-based firm, suggesting that a majority of Ukrainians support his leadership.
The EU has expressed solidarity with Zelensky, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating on Monday that 'there is no need to hold elections' in Ukraine.
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